Washington (ANA-MPA/T. Ellis) -- Greek ambassador in Washington
Alexandros Mallias conveyed to US president George Bush Greece's
displeasure that the country was not included among the group of
countries admitted to the US Visa Waiver Program, before a ceremony at
the White House during which Bush formally announced the entry of seven
new countries into the program, under which the citizens of countries
are not required to have a visa in order to visit the US.

Mallias said it was not a good or happy day either for Greece or the
Greek-American community, stressing that "Greece should have been today
the first country named for admission into the Program", speaking in
the Oval Office before the ceremony, in the presence of secretary of
state Condoleezza Rice and Homeland Security secretary Michael
Chertoff, members of the National Security Council, and other
ambassadors.

Bush sought elaboration from Chertoff, who replied that there were
certain documents that needed to be signed by Greece. Mallias
interjected that such was not the case, adding "the truth is that there
has been a big delay on the part of the US side, and the real reasons
are known to both us and Mr. Chertoff".

Earlier, during a regular briefing, White House press secretary Dana
Perino said in reply to press question that "Greece has a little bit of
more work to do on the implementation of the program, but we think that
they're on the track to be able to be admitted into it later in the
year".

Asked to specify when that might be, she replied: "I think that we're
looking towards, by the end of the year, we hope to have that all
wrapped up".